# Cosmic Voyage - How to Join

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    Anyone* who enjoys writing is welcome to join Cosmic.Voyage. To do
    so you will need to choose a username for the system, and create
    an SSH pubkey to log in. This is a public access unix system, so
    you will be working in a command-line shell environment to
    interact with the system. Getting started instructions:

    For Linux Users:
    - open a terminal
    - generate a key using ssh-keygen (just accept all the defaults)
    - your secret key is the file ~/.ssh/id_rsa
    - your public key is the file ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub
    - send the id_rsa.pub file to james [at] tomasino.org along
      with your desired username
    - when your account has been approved, connect using ssh and your
      user name, e.g. ssh asimov@cosmic.voyage

    For Mac Users:
    - use Command+Space to search for Terminal
    - generate a key using ssh-keygen (just accept all the defaults)
    - your secret key is the file ~/.ssh/id_rsa
    - your public key is the file ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub
    - send the id_rsa.pub file to james [at] tomasino.org along
      with your desired username
    - when your account has been approved, connect using ssh and your
      user name, e.g. ssh asimov@cosmic.voyage

    For Windows Users:
    - download the latest version of PuTTY
    - use puttygen to generate a key
    - save private and public keys
    - send the public key to james [at] tomasino.org along with
      your desired username
    - when your account has been approved, start pageant (this will
      put an icon of a computer wearing a hat into the System tray)
    - right click the icon and choose View Keys
    - click the Add Keys button
    - select the private key you created up above and open it
    - start putty and connect to your username at cosmic.voyage, e.g.
      asimov@cosmic.voyage

    Once you log in to the system for the first time, you will have a
    welcome email waiting for you. You can read this message by
    running the 'alpine' or 'mutt' commands to open the respective
    mail program. Alpine is easier for those unfamiliar with the
    command line. Your welcome email will explain how to get started
    on the system and where to look for help.

    * To comply with COPPA in the United States, this service is not
      intended for users under the age of 13. If you would like to
      join and are under that age, please sign up with a parent or
      guardian who can administer your account, and read the privacy
      information below. Users found violating this policy will have
      their accounts and stories removed from the system.

    Privacy Information:

    This site does not collect any personal data beyond your username
    and information volunteered, such as in the stories written and
    submitted. Server logs are rotated regularly and contain basic
    information such as timestamps, IP addresses, and some command
    debugging information. We have no third party reporting or data
    integrations.